Aristotelian Ethics: Virtue, Deontology, and Consequentialism

Core Ethical Frameworks

This paper examines three primary schools of ethics derived from Aristotle’s Aristotelian Ethics, followed by a critical analysis of potential objections to strengthen my perspective.

The Three Schools of Ethics

• Consequentialism: Asserts that the moral rightness or wrongness of an action depends entirely on its consequences. The Utilitarian perspective defines this through "happiness," characterized as pleasure in the absence of pain.
• Deontology: Focuses on moral rightness determined by conformity to universal rules and principles.
• Virtue Ethics: The most prominent approach, which posits that virtue is primary, rather than focusing solely on what is considered "good" or "right."

Aristotle’s Criteria for Virtue

Aristotle identifies five criteria for being virtuous. An action must be performed:

• At the right time
• With reference to the right objects
• Towards the right people
• In the right way
• For the right length of time

The Doctrine of the Mean

These criteria help explain Aristotle’s concept of the "mean." For instance, courage is the virtuous mean: an excess of courage leads to recklessness, while a deficiency results in cowardice.

Aristotle notes that these virtues are relative to the individual and the situation. For example, if witnessing a theft, a person of comparable size to the mugger might act courageously by intervening, whereas a smaller individual might act courageously by calling the police. If the mugger is armed, calling the police becomes the universally courageous act, as the priority remains protecting the victim.

Critical Objections

Challenges to the Aristotelian Mean

Critics often argue against the practicality of the mean. For example, consider the difficulty of informing someone about marital infidelity: there is arguably no "right" way, time, person, or duration to deliver such news, challenging the application of Aristotle’s criteria.

Analyzing Generosity and Courage

Further scrutiny is required regarding the application of the mean to virtues such as generosity and courage, as these traits often lack clear boundaries in complex social scenarios.